7.20PM FRIDAY OCTOBER 11TH

WATERWORLD - 'THE ULYSSES CUT'

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WWC is proud to present a very special screening of the fabled 'Ulysses Cut' of the much maligned 90s Kevin Costner 'Mad Max, but on water' blockbuster Waterworld. Attacked viciously in the press even BEFORE it's release due to reported production problems and a ballooning budget of what, at the time, became the most expensive movie ever made, the film has (rather incorrectly) become synonymous with monstrous financial disaster. 

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Costner in 2024 is currently in the middle of a $100 million dollar gamble (with a considerable chunk of his own money) with his two part six plus hour epic Western saga 'Horizon' (with a planned parts three AND four) and has never been shy of ambitious movie making. But the sheer scale of Waterworld and it's pre-CG spectacle of gargantuan maritime sets, elaborate action and epic vistas is still one of the most jaw dropping feats in cinema history. Costing a whopping $175 million (that's $368 million in today's money) it was hampered by a unfair press pile on, the inherent difficulty and cost of shooting in water, and disagreements on the film's vision between director Kevin Reynolds and star/producer Kevin Costner, who had by this point, directed the huge hit Dances With Wolves winning no less than seven Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director.

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Cut to ribbons by the studio in a panic to try to salvage something from the reputation the press had given it before even seeing it, huge chunks of character development, some of the film's best sequences and the films pacing were lost, giving way to a confusing choppy theatrical cut. Eventually in the years that followed more expansive (but censored for TV) versions surfaced on American TV, and over the intervening decades footage was cribbed from these by fans, and cobbled together into an infamous 'Ulysses Cut' that spread around film fans online. Finally now restored in it's full uncensored, original length glory (restoring some lost 40 minutes of scenes) the official 'Ulysses Cut' represents the definitive version of this lost epic blockbuster that now comes across as Mad Max directed by Terry Gilliam.

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This post apocalyptic tale of a future where the polar ice caps have completely melted, and the sea level has risen to cover all the lands of the earth, follows a nameless seafarer (played strictly as an anti-hero by Costner) who begrudgingly helps a woman (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and a young girl (Tina Majorino) in quest to find the mythical 'Dryland'. All the while encountering the difficulties of the post apocalyptic world, as well as a fabulous scenery chewing Dennis Hopper and his gang of 'smokers'. With prescient ecological overtones and outrageous production values, and now in this expansive cut that gives the story room to breath, finally this once throwaway bit of 90s cultural ephemera can be seen as truly intended. Join us for this special escapist extravaganza of Hollywood excess, that is a genuinely thrilling big screen spectacle.

7.40PM THURSDAY OCTOBER 17TH

GLORIA (1980)
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Originally announced by us back in May, this screening now becomes an unintended tribute to the great Gena Rowlands who sadly passed away on August 14th of this year. One of the great actresses of her, or indeed any other generation, starring in films such as Woody Allen's Another Woman and Jim Jarmusch's Night on Earth.

 

This gem of a movie is the product of Rowland's husband and collaborator John Cassavetes. A renowned actor himself (Rosemary's Baby, The Dirty Dozen), Cassavetes was also a revered writer / director and considered a true filmmaker's filmmaker creating such uncompromising classics as Husbands and The Killing of a Chinese Bookie. But for both Rowlands and Cassavetes it was their husband & wife collaborations that would become their most successful ventures with dense but highly rewarding masterpieces like Opening Night and A Woman Under The Influence. This film was initially designed by Cassavetes as a commercial script to sell to a major studio for others to make, but when Rowlands was cast, Cassavetes could no longer resist taking on directorial duties.

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A remarkably fascinating crowd-pleaser, Gloria is the most unusual of commercial movies with all the character, style and oddness one might expect from Cassavetes channelled into a heart-warming, dramatic and charming piece of popular cinema. Rowlands, as ever, gives a barn burning performance as a woman who accidentally becomes embroiled in a Mafia beef when her next door neighbour's family is targeted by the mob. Begrudgingly Gloria takes on the family's characterful six year old Phil (a wonderfully idiosyncratic performance from child actor John Adames in his only ever screen role) as the two go on the run and try to avoid a string of gun toting Mafiosos. 

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A fabulously effervescent document of a now lost New York,  bravura camerawork by cinematographer Fred Schuler (who also shot Scorsese's The King of Comedy) captures the raw charm of the city and the film's cast. Don't miss a chance to see Rowlands redefine the so called 'tough broad' female screen presence as she channels the likes of Cagney and Bogart whilst still bringing her own characteristic modern off-beat style to this remarkable landmark one woman tour-de-force.

7.40PM WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 30TH

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

US

 

Celebrating the release of the new Jordan Peele curated black horror story anthology paperback 'Out There Screaming'.

 

Grab your copy on the night or get a special combo ticket for the event that includes entry and the book at a discounted price. Standard tickets also available.

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Celebrating the release of film director Jordan Peele’s Black horror anthology paperback ‘Out There Screaming’ we screen Peele’s underrated middle feature made between his breakout hit ‘Get Out’ and IMAX style blockbuster ‘Nope’. ‘Us’ is a fascinating secret code of a horror movie filled to the brim with hidden clues, messages and ideas. Lupita Nyong'o stars as Adelaide, who despite being troubled by a memory from her past returns to her childhood home with her husband and kids, only to face a horrifying home invasion from four red-jumpsuit wearing attackers who seem to be exact doppelgangers of her, her husband and children. 
 

The ultimate cinematic ‘Easter egg’ that becomes more fascinating with each watch, ‘Us’ also contains Peele’s trademark humour as well as being utterly terrifying. Books will be available to purchase on the night or in a value advance ticket combo, if you want to delve even deeper into the genre guided by Jordan Peele himself.

8PM THURSDAY OCTOBER 31ST

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

THE CROW (1994)

30TH ANNIVERSARY
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Before Robert Pattinson's take on 'The Batman' another winged avenger ruled the gothic grunge roost. Long held as a bona-fide cult classic, the 1994 version of The Crow has recently begun to be re-evaluated for just how much influence it has had on modern cinema (especially Pattinson's Batman/HBO's Penguin). Starring Brandon (son of Bruce) Lee in his final role (Lee was killed in a tragic accident on the set of the movie) alongside other cult movie actors Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters), David Patrick Kelly (Twin Peaks/The Warriors) and Tony Todd (Candyman), this dark pop culture masterpiece tells the tale of Eric Draven, an rock musician who is resurrected from the grave exactly one year after his death (the day before his wedding to his fiancé on Halloween) so he can seek retribution on those who have wronged him, which in this case just happens to lead to the city's foremost crime syndicate.

 

The film is cleverly stylised and brilliantly shot by Dariusz Wolski, a music video director for the likes of David Bowie, Elton John, Eminem and Sting. Wolski later became the go to cinematographer for the likes of Ridley Scott, and Tim Burton, fitting given the clear influences of Scott's Blade Runner and Burton's 1989 Batman on show here. The film's tragic story in-front of and behind the camera are the stuff of 90s goth legend, and the film has become a true pop culture landmark and a big influence on the future of popular cinema. Disastrously re-booted in 2024 with IT star Bill Skarsgård and FKA Twigs, this original 1994 film version is infinitely superior and still stands as one of the best dark comic book adaptations ever made. Join us for this very special Halloween night screening.

7.40PM TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5TH

U.S. ELECTION NIGHT SPECIAL

ELECTION

25TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING

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On the day millions of Americans cast their votes at the ballot box we offer a little light relief with this special 25th anniversary screening of this savagely funny debut film from Alexander Payne, director of The Holdovers, Sideways, About Schmidt, The Descendants and more.

 

When high school teacher Jim McCallister (Matthew Broderick) is confronted by unbearably ambitious student Tracy Flick’s (Reese Witherspoon) unopposed campaign to become school president, he convinces the school’s most popular ‘jock’ Paul to run against her, unleashing unintended chaos into all their lives.

 

A brilliant satire of politics as a whole, this exceptionally witty high school comedy is Payne at his darkly humorous, gloriously bitter best. 

8PM FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29TH

AMERICAN MOVIE
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One of the funniest, most heartfelt and enjoyable documentaries of all time

​now celebrating it's 25th anniversary 'American Movie' (winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival) centres on young Wisconsin filmmaker Mark Borchardt who along with friend Mike Schank are attempting to make low budget horror movie 'Coven'. 'Attempting' being the operative word. Armed only with determination and a $3000 loan from his uncle, a combination of mishaps, mismanagement and sheer ineptitude lead to a catalogue of hilarious filmmaking disasters.

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Here director Chris Smith, who went on to create a string of successful docs that include 'Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond' (the doc about Jim Carrey playing Andy Kauffman in Man On The Moon), 'Fyre' (about the failed Fyre Festival), 'Sr' (about Robert Downey Jr. and his father, Robert Downey Sr), the recent 2023 Wham! doc and an upcoming 2024 DEVO doc. crafts one of the most beloved, intimate and amusing docs of all time in 'American Movie'.

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This bittersweet doc about a would-be director and his bumbling but loyal friend is surprisingly funny, touching and a real love letter to the burning sense of ambition that fuels every true filmmaker as well as a loving and joyous portrait of two hapless friends chasing their dreams. ​​